Addendum - Having sex is one of the joys of any life. To deny that to as lovely an animal or species as a Labrador is beyond evil. It's all I can do to hold my thoughts when I encounter such monstrous cruelty as a Lab de-balled.

No, he's not a barker. He's quiet and friendly. And remember - this is America, not some failed authoritarian communist superpower. Adoption is open to all - including foreign LGBT couples and individuals who can provide a good loving home.

I usually have 5 or 6 rescue dogs under my care at any one time, sometimes a couple more, and I always take dogs to work every day. We have a dog friendly workplace, and allow them to mingle about throughout the factory. Of course they love it, but I can only take three with me at a time, so I rotate them. It's very hard to leave anyone behind. It's hard to not give a being what they so desperately want, when you know you could. Especially if all they want is to be with you. I suffer deeply and daily with my guilt. Then I come home to no hard feelings, just "hey, it's great that you're home".

Is this some kind of test for subconscious racism? "If your heart goes out to the boy in the middle", it's not because he looks depressed - perish the thought! - it's because he's a white boy surrounded by black and brown . . . uh, I think I'd better say 'men' here?

I have about 60 dogs up for adoption right now. Apparently they got hold of a computer, and I just got an email from them saying they all want their photos on Althouse. I told them "nobody important reads that damned thing anyway."

All these damned dog posts are creating a lot of unrest among my pack. We could have revolution here.

What suggestion do you have for people like me -- who have an irrational fear of dogs? If I were a worker in your factory I would be stressing about their presence. Lately though Althouse' dog therapy is working to make me feel at ease.

"What suggestion do you have for people like me -- who have an irrational fear of dogs?"

Come fill out an application. A lot of people were afraid of dogs before working with us, and no longer are. If you are afraid, but everyday a Dobermann, a Pit Bull and German Shepard come and lay their head in your lap while you're working, you get over it. A few people are still afraid, and I respect their space. Nearly every office person in our company has their own office. I don't like cubicles. We have a lot of dutch doors on offices, so you can keep the dogs out and still interact with people. In the factory, the dogs are mostly off leash but only when the owner is with them. Although quite a few people fear dogs when they start there, nearly everybody gets turned around pretty quickly. Most become very eager to greet them every day once they are over the fear, and many have gone out and adopted dogs after working there.

The way over your fear is just like everything else, exposure under safe conditions with positive outcomes.

Before I started rescue, I was pretty fearful of Pitt Bulls in particular, but after a while I learned, and now I'm the Pitt Bull guy in the organization. Most fears are just lack of knowledge. When they are not, they are a good thing anyway.

Advice? Learn how to handle dogs and just do it. Volunteer for a rescue. That's how I started.

Before I started rescue, I was pretty fearful of Pitt Bulls in particular, ...

That remark made me laugh, because I was the same way some time ago, even though I worked with some really fearsome dogs regularly. It was just a "thing" ... proven silly one day when I called the local animal rescue folks to help capture a free running pit bull female.

They said, okay we'll be there in 30 minutes, several calls on hand now, but can you just got grab her and put collar and leash on her until we get there?

Say WHOT? Never-the-less I did as requested and met the friendliest damn dog ever, seemed delighted to have me as company. We got along well enough to go around the 'hood asking if anyone knew where she lived...and we found her home just about the time the Rescue folks arrived...and they were delighted, too.

Here is a photo of Sugar Lump in her new home. She's a Pit Bull that I had for over a year, and who just got adopted a few weeks ago by a very famous actress, who is a wonderfully sweet person who also has 2 cats, 2 chihuahuas and another Pit bull. As you can see, this Pit Bull is hardly dangerous. She was a lot like an infant. I found her in the bushes where she was dumped. She would not walk, eat, drink or move for two days, because she was so scared. Eventually she became very happy and outgoing and had a fan club of people who wanted her, but were not allowed to have her due to too common housing and insurance restrictions on the breed. In the end, it all turned out perfect, and I got to meet a very hot (single) actress, who unfortunately is too young for me. Aren't they all?

Hell, I gave up with the insurance bit long ago. Just try sitting down with your friendly insurance agent to discuss household insurance and tell him/her about your dogs with Schutzhund titles involving tracking, obedience and protection.

When the agent's apoplexy episode is over with and he/she is back upright in their chair, you will find out that home owners insurance doesn't cover dogs that have been taught how to do anything protective.

A couple of days ago, I was inspecting a vacant house on the southside (Chicago) and a cat jumped up on the window sill meowing its head off--from inside the house. How she got there I don't know as I have been to the house many times. Long story short, I have her at home and will try to fit her into "Kitty City". I have four other cats. She is one tough cookie and a tiny thing at that but for now hates the other cats. Wish me luck.

I must tell you that your long haired Schutzhund in your avatar is a beautiful creature.

Yes, he was an elegant long haired German Shepherd, with a personality to match his appearance, out of West German parents, bred in Fitchburg, WI actually. Browndog's right, it's emotional for me to talk about him, even now...but it always is for Judi & I when we lose a dog or horse that we love....and "Ari" was as close to Judi's heart as anything could ever get.

However, I am not often accused of being polite. Never the less I appreciate your kind words, and Alex and Browndog, plus the others who've commented previosuly. He does live on in our hearts. We are not alone, because we have Dera, "Ari's" companion and playmate, to remind us of the joy he always manifest.

Whether I/we acquire another pup or young dog is up in the air. I may go for a rescue now as a way of paying back and helping a dog who needs it. As I said, it's up in the air...I'm old now, it may be time to pay some back.

Thanks, Petunia...it is interesting all the people who come here that have dogs, cats, or horses that they care about deeply. Another German Shepherd person from the Detroit is @ICallahan and his dog Kaiser.

There's no explaining what I save electronically...but it is a critter photo more often than not....that one from the Gallatin Mountains southeast of Yellowstone....an unfortunately over habituated wild fox. Somebody fed him...and now he's dead, too.